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- Upgrades at six train stations (Burpengary, Bundamba, Banyo, Buranda, Lindum and Morningside) are surging ahead and are on track to deliver life-changing accessibility features.
- Community members bury a historic time capsule as part of a major upgrade to Burpengary station.
- Burpengary and Bundamba stations have reached significant milestones with footbridges, lift shafts and a station building installed.
Queensland Rail's flagship Station Accessibility Upgrade Program is making history as major milestones are achieved at railway stations across the South-East Queensland network.
Two footbridges weighing more than 35-ton and 65-ton have been lowered onto place at Burpengary and Bundamba stations, marking the most significant impact to the stations' histories since they were built in 1917 and 1888 respectively.
The bridges were installed using 450-ton and 500-ton cranes and were fastened between the two lift shafts, forming the structure which will link the platforms over the tracks via a lift.
At both stations, platforms have been raised so they are closer to the train doors, and tactiles are progressively being installed and the original station buildings are being refreshed to ensure they are preserved. A new station building has been lowered into place at Burpengary station.
To commemorate the milestones, Burpengary State School and the Burpengary Community Association buried a time capsule at Burpengary station, just as the original builders of Burpengary station did more than a century ago.
The school students drawings and postcards to their future selves were placed in the time capsule, along with a gocard, photographs, a newspaper, a jar of honey and a rail peg. The capsule will be reopened in June 2054.
Burpengary and Bundamba are the first to reach this pivotal stage and customers will soon be able to enjoy the new facilities when Burpengary station reopens in coming months.
Construction is also progressing full steam ahead at Morningside, Buranda, Lindum and Banyo stations.
The Station Accessibility Upgrade program will deliver accessible, modern and renovated stations for Burpengary, Bundamba, Morningside, Lindum and Banyo by the end of 2024, with Buranda station to be completed in the first half of 2025.
Quotes attributable to Queensland Rail Executive General Manager of SEQ Assets Rob Hill:
“We've reached a turning point here at Burpengary and Bundamba stations. We've seen both footbridges installed and the Burpengary station building set in place – these are huge milestones," Mr Hill said.
“Both pivotal transport hubs for Queensland, these upgrades mark the most transformative work these stations have undergone in their history.
“We have more than 400 Queensland Rail staff and contractors working on our biggest upgrade program ever bringing these six stations, Bundamba, Burpengary, Morningside, Banyo, Lindum and Buranda into the modern era.
“It is important, that among all this progress, we take a moment to reflect on Queensland Rail's rich history.
“In 1917 the construction workers who built the Burpengary station left a time capsule of sorts which was unearthed in the 1990s. In a nod to history, we have done the same today with drawings and postcards from Burpengary State School and items from the Burpengary Community Association.
“In almost 160 years of connecting Queensland, history is incredibly important to us, and to recreate the same ritual as our forebears is really special for us and the community.
“We thank our customers for their patience while the stations are temporarily closed. The closures have meant we have been able to see so much progress on the builds – and we're thrilled to be reopening Burpengary late in August."
Quotes from Hutchinson Builders Chairman Scott Hutchinson:
"Collaborative working with Queensland Rail during the temporary station closures at Burpengary and Bundamba stations have created a safe environment for this work to be executed efficiently," Mr Hutchinson said.
“Hutchies is honoured to include a jar of Hutchinson Honey Bees in the time capsule, along with a limited edition 112 Year Hutchinson Builders Shield to mark the occasion. Honey is said to last for centuries."
FUTHER INFORMATION
| Station | Milestones achieved to June |
| Bundamba | Lift shafts, footbridge, platform raising works and coping, station entry works underway and the old station building (shelter) shifted and refreshed. |
| Burpengary | New station building installed, lift shafts, footbridge, platform raising works and coping, platform awnings progressed, carpark works. |
| Banyo | Old footbridge demolished, heritage shelter removed to be relocated, platform and screw piling works and retaining wall works. |
| Lindum | Carpark works ongoing, platform retaining wall works and coping works, excavation works and bridge fabrication. |
| Morningside | Old ramps demolished, screw piling works, coping works, installation of new platform sections for extended platform, prefabrication of footbridge structural components . |
| Buranda | Timber footbridge removed, platform retaining wall works and piling works for the new lift shafts and footbridge. |
- The Station Accessibility Upgrade Program projects that are being delivered at Lindum, Morningside, Banyo, Buranda, Bundamba and Burpengary stations are the largest number of stations Queensland Rail has delivered simultaneously.
- All new station accessibility upgrades will feature new lift-accessible footbridges, full-length raised platforms and extended platform shelters.
- Other improvements include upgraded customer facilities like accessible toilets, ticket windows and improved seating.
- We're also installing hearing augmentation loops, tactile floor indicators, new wayfinding signage, information screens and better security through CCTV and lighting upgrades.
- Since 2017, Queensland Rail has completed 12 station upgrades including at Alderley, Newmarket, Graceville, Nambour, Dinmore, Morayfield, Boondall, Strathpine, East Ipswich, Dakabin, Cannon Hill and Auchenflower. South Bank Platform 1 was also completed in November 2022.
- As well as the Station Accessibility Upgrade Program, accessibility upgrades are included as part of the Cross River Rail rebuilds of Dutton Park, Yeronga, Moorooka, Salisbury, Fairfield, Yeerongpilly, Rocklea and Exhibition stations. In addition, the new stations being delivered as part of Cross River Rail will also meet passenger accessibility requirements. These stations include Boggo Road, Albert Street, Woolloongabba, Pimpama, Hope Island, Merrimac and Underground Roma Street.
- In 1888 the first 'crossing gate' was built at Burpengary and the pre-fabricated station building was completed in 1917. Queensland Rail employees who built it left a historical record of current world events including the Great War in the ceiling of the building. It was uncovered in the 1990s.
- Following the completion of the Ipswich to Brisbane section of the main line in 1875, Bundamba railway station was established in 1878. The first building on site was a small timber shelter shed relocated from Oxley.
FOOTAGE NOTES FOR MEDIA
Burpengary – Footage of new Burpengary station building installation, footage of footbridge installation and timelapse footage of footbridge installation.
Bundamba – Timelapse footage of Bundamba platform coping tiling works.
Buranda – Footage of piling works and platform retaining wall works and timelapse of timber bridge removal.
Morningside – Footage of piling and platform works. Footage of the prefabrication of structural components of the footbridge at local steel manufacturers Idec Solutions- based at Murarrie. Timelapse footage of the Morningside ramps removal.
ENDS